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Silo Recap: Breakdown, It’s All Right

Dec 20, 2024

As a long-time fan of dystopian literature, I must say that “Silo” is truly living up to my expectations. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue, and I can’t help but be drawn into the world of these characters.

“One of my favorite tropes in comic book villains is when things spiral out of control for the baddies, seemingly disastrously, for numerous pages. However, at the very end of the issue, often in a suspenseful panel, Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, or whoever, lets out an evil laugh and proclaims, “Things are going … exactly as I intended!

Bernard Holland exhibits the traits of a villain who meticulously executes his schemes as intended. Loyal to The Pact, The Order, and any blueprint left behind by the masterminds of the silos, Bernard maintains an unusual air of serenity and assurance during moments when everything seems to be spiraling out of control. This week’s episode is no exception. As two opposing militias from Mechanical move towards Judicial’s fortifications, disregarding Bernard’s supply blockade, the mayor appears almost excited. He refers to these events as “ahead of schedule,” “good news,” and “speeding up our timeline.” It seems that not only has he foreseen this rebellion but also hoped it would unfold in exactly this manner.

Isn’t it questionable if Bernard’s books hold all the answers he requires? Although his ancestors might have grasped some aspects of human nature, they were generations that spent their entire lives in isolation, not exposed to modern society. Could they truly foresee, with such precision, how people and culture would develop over time?

What “Barricades” presupposes is: Maybe they didn’t?

For the majority of this episode, we follow events primarily in Silo 18, with a quick and crucial update from Silo 17 towards the end. The reason for focusing on Silo 18 at this stage in the season is due to its plot finally picking up significant pace. The main happenings currently revolve around the rebellion, which Bernard aims to stir up discontent within Mechanical and between Mechanical and other silos.

The disagreement among Knox and Shirley is a significant issue for them, as they’ve made it back home after their daring rappel in the last episode. However, their actions have attracted Judicial’s disapproval towards their community. It seems someone in Down Deep has contaminated their food supply, and with Level 130 blocked, deliveries are halted. This has left the citizens near Mechanical questioning why their children should go hungry for the sake of two troublemakers. As Bernard gloats, “An old saying goes that ‘only nine missed meals can turn a functioning society into chaos.'” And indeed, events seem to be falling neatly into place!

Bernard asserts that he’s unfazed when Knox, Shirley, and Walker suppress the internal uprising, using methods such as supplying food through garbage chutes from allies on upper levels and delivering inspiring speeches about the Mechanical lifestyle, where everyone shares resources and live communally. However, hints suggesting that perhaps — just perhaps — Bernard lacks a clear destination for this voyage appear once the rejuvenated and well-supplied Mechanical soldiers acquire weapons and armor from Knox’s foundry associate and prepare to march in tandem towards the barricade.

The first surprise? One of the militias has a powerful saw that can cut through concrete, enabling them to sneak behind Judicial’s raiders. The second surprise? Shirley has come up with a plan of her own to get the raiders into a standoff position on Level 120 and then propose a truce involving moving the barricade to that level. When Bernard hears that his head of security, Amundsen, agreed to this deal, his eyes practically roll out of his head. Did Amundsen realize that by giving the Down Deepers access to everything below Level 120, he just gave them a whole frickin’ farm?

I’ll be back to Bernard shortly as in this scene, not only does he fail to maintain his food blockade tactically, but also loses Sheriff Billings’ trust. The sheriff is still probing into the firebombing incident (alongside numerous other perplexing enigmas) within the Mechanical area; now that his wife, Kathleen, has descended with their infant, he shows no signs of rushing back upstairs. Kathleen arrived to assist with an unofficial medical predicament – extracting a bullet from the firebomber, Patrick – and she brought Dr. Nichols along because only he possesses the necessary powerful medication.

Billings isn’t completely clear on whom his allegiance belongs, yet he is certain of one thing – he despises being manipulated and deceived by anyone. This behavior from Patrick, who had vowed to expose mind-blowing secrets about the silos that “will wreck your life,” really gets him riled up. Eventually, Billings makes everyone leave the room and adopts a menacing stance towards Patrick. In a reluctant confession, Patrick reveals what he knows: prior to Juliette leaving, she momentarily changed all the silo’s screens to display a video of lush greenery outside. Although not everyone saw it, Patrick did, and this knowledge troubles him because it makes him question everything he was ever told about the world beyond the silos. (Even though we know the video itself is a fabrication, Patrick’s intuition is still sharp. He doesn’t need to be so rude, but he’s not entirely mistaken.)

In the meantime, Billing warns the Down Deepers that he can’t assist them in any way, not even helping Walker locate his ex-wife Carla who has been taken by Judicial, as long as they continue to conceal Knox and Shirley. When he eventually discovers Knox and Shirley (who are kissing at the moment), he contacts Bernard and informs him that he won’t hand them over to Judicial until there’s an investigation into Judge Meadows’s death. A bewildered Bernard then cuts off all radio transmissions, fearing that others in the silo might hear the sheriff disobeying the mayor’s orders.

In the end, we find ourselves back with Bernard, who by this episode’s close is far more shaken than his initial demeanor suggested. At a particularly emotional moment during a visit with Mary Meadows’ deceased body, he crumbles, admitting to the crime, stating it was due to “the calculations” and lamenting that her death may have no impact. He expresses his remorse by saying, “140 years of stability, and it could all come undone during my tenure.

Speaking of plans … what’s that old saying about the best-laid ones?

The Down Deep

It’s not that I’m calling “the Syndrome” nonsense, but it strikes me as odd that when Sheriff Billings stops using his herbs, he doesn’t seem to have any physical repercussions, and then his wife suggests he’s just “changed.” I question if transforming into a more assertive person could really explain away real medical conditions.

In a touching encounter on the Mechanical level, Dr. Nichols drops by to see Walker and expresses gratitude for her long-term care of Juliette. He inquires if she believes Juliette is still alive, but Walker shatters his hopes by responding negatively. She suspects that Juliette intentionally moved out of the camera’s sight so that her family wouldn’t have to witness her final moments.

As a discerning movie critic, I’d note that the intriguing plot twist revolves around Bernard uncovering Camille’s role in assisting Knox and Shirley’s escape from mob retribution. However, what makes this revelation truly captivating is Bernard’s subsequent disclosure: it was Camille’s husband who instigated the agitators within the very mob they sought to evade. This strategic move by Bernard aims to sow discord among the Sims family, compelling them to reconsider their choices and motives.

As the episode concludes, two significant events are introduced that will undoubtedly be explored further in the upcoming one. In one scenario, Lukas attempts to decipher Salvador Quinn’s letter but becomes so confused that Bernard takes an unexpected action: He appoints Lukas as his IT backup, allowing him to disclose crucial information under the terms of the Pact. Silo fans, you may be eagerly anticipating what this implies – next episode could potentially reveal some long-awaited answers, much like a classic “mystery box” show eventually does. In other words, it’s time for “answers”!

In this episode, it was Solo who created another suspenseful situation, aiding Juliette in recovering from an infection and then withholding her suit and helmet as leverage until she fixes the water pump. This means that Juliette won’t be departing Silo 17 and returning home any time soon.

I’m thrilled to share that the announcement made earlier in the week confirmed that “Silo” will continue for two additional seasons! The complete four-season series aims to encompass the entirety of Hugh Howey’s multi-book saga. It’s fantastic news since this show is truly hitting its stride, and it would have been unfortunate if creator Graham Yost didn’t get a chance to tell the full story.

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2024-12-20 14:54